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Title: Death to Dust: What Happens to Dead Bodies
ISBN: 1883620074
Author:
Kenneth V. Iserson
Publicate Date: 1994-01-15
Publish: 1994-01-15
List Price: $41.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $60.00
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $6.93
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Scared of death?
Then you should definitely read this book.
This is one of the best put together books that I have ever read oh the subject. Lots of helpful information on what to do if you ever have to deal with the process of planning for a funeral. This book personally helped me after the death of my father. I was able to deal professionally with the funeral home and save a lot of money for my family while making sure that my father's funeral was extremely respectful and everyone came away for the better.
History, religion, taboos and facts are all presented in this book. I feel all the better for having read this book and having a better appreciation of the process and understanding of what others go through in the process of death. While not a happy time, this book will help you go on if you ever have to deal with the subject.
Take the time to read this, you will probably want to own your own copy, or may even want to give some copies to family members.
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2: Fascinating peek into a hidden world
I have skipped around, reading topics of interest. The book answers a lot of questions that would otherwise go un-answered. It has caused me to wonder about the invasiveness of the modern embalming process - does it honor or dishonor the dead?
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3: a handbook for cemeterians
As a cemetery manager, I should understand what is going on down there. This book provides that information. Aside from that, I found the section on ancient disposal practices great reading.
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4: Perfect for the morbidly curious...
Personally, I have always had a passing interest in mortuary science. Perhaps this is because what goes on "behind the closed doors" of the funeral home is always kept so discrete...usually for good reason. This book has been extremely helpful in allowing me to have a "peak" beyond those doors, and is very descriptive about what happens to us when we pass on. After reading this book, I feel that many of my questions have been answered, at least for the most part. The only reservation I have about this book is the fact that it reads more like a text...very scientific. If you're looking for light and leisurely material to browse, this book is probably not for you. But, if it's the "real deal" you're after, and are serious about learning more about what takes place when we die...this is the one!
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5: Encyclopedia of death
This book is a virtual encyclopedia of death. It is extremely comprehensive, covering subjects ranging from organ donation, brain death, corpse disposal in other cultures and throughout history, the funeral industry, burials, cremations, and much more. At the end there is even a handy-dandy section that you can fill out to leave for your loved ones with instructions about how to dispose your body, what kind of funeral you want, etc.
It is highly informative yet not too technical, written in plain language, and in a highly readable question and answer style, so you only read that which you are interested in. I appreciated the fact that there are no gruesome or gory photographs of corpses, only drawings and historical engravings that are not too offensive to the sensitive among us.
There is obviously no love lost between the author and the funeral industry, and he frequently subtly (and not-so-subtly) condemns the outrageous costs and selling tactics used by the industry, often using dry humor or a tongue-in-cheek manner. The author also has the more positive agenda of promoting organ donations, and seeks to do that by thoroughly explaining how the process is done.
This book covers just about everything you ever wanted to know about death and the history of corpse disposal. However, it did leave out a couple of subjects which I would have been interested in reading. The first is the so-called "coffin birth" which happens when a pregnant woman dies (believe me, this is not too gory to be covered in this book, which goes into detail about decomposition, cannibalism, shrunken heads, etc.).
The other is about what options are available to families who can't afford a funeral or internment for their loved ones. I am not talking about "pauper's graves" for indigents/homeless, which is covered in the book, but simply options for low income families who have no funeral insurance and can't afford to pay thousands for a casket or even cremation - what kinds of social agencies are out there to help in these case that may offer lower cost disposals? From whom do you seek help if this happens to your family (i.e. social workers at hospitals)? These are questions that still need answers.
Overall, though, this is an impressive undertaking and is the only book you'll ever need to read for a generalized study of death.
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